The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-05-25

himself or her. There had not been a sim
gle word uttered by herself or the tramp,
in regard to her father.
The detective went away to make a
thorough examination of the ground. He
was absent day or two, and again called
on Olivia.
"Did you speak with any one else save
members of your own family on that even
ing2" the detective asked.
mo, sir"
Think well before you answer. Was
any one else here?"
"No-yes, there was-Harry Blake was
coming by. He stopped at the gate, and l
talked moment with him."
"Oh, yes; this Harry Blake Is the young
man whom have met her frequently
Yes, sir" she answered, blushing pro-
fusely.
"He has been very active ip trying to
bring the murder of your father to light?"
Yes, sir" blushing still more deeply.
"What did he talk about?"
81 do not remember-the tramp was one
thing"
"Did you talk about your father"
Eyes, sir. l told him that father was
coming home from the village, where he
had been to get the money from Mr.. Long
on his mortgage"
well, young lady, it is perhaps rather
O disagreeable announcement to make, but
that young gentleman is the man who MUIR
dered your father"
WHAT" she shrieked, starting to her
feet. "Harry-its false, sir"
Il pity you, young lady, but it is too
true. The fatal knife still bearing stains
of the crime was found near the spot. The
knife has been recognizyh as his, and has
his name cut on the buck horn handle"
Olivia swocned at this fearful evidence.
When she recovered she implored the de-
tective TO not impute such charge upon
her lover, and told him all that had been
said by either, but her statement only con-
firmed the detective in the belief of the
guilt of the youth.
When he was arrested for the crime,
Harry Blake declared himself innocent,
and assured the officers that he had lost his
knife only day or two before the horrible
deed was perpetrated.
But this was an old dodge, and the de-
tective told him that it would not answer in
his case. Harry was at first inclined TO
treat his arrest as n light affair, but when
he found his friends giving him rather sus-
picious glances, and heard that his case not
being bailable he must 60 to prison, his
heart began TO fail him.
A few days confinement, while it did not
COW him, for he was conscious of his inno-
cence, tended to greatly humiliate him.
His father and friends, still firmly con-
yinced of his innocence, employed law
yer for him.
The fifth day of his imprisonment Har-
rvs heart was made glad by the appear
ance of his behothed. She looked very
pretty in her sable dress and mourning
veil. She came to assure him that her
confidence in his innocence of the death of
her father was mistaken, and all that she
could do to prove that her convictions were
the truth would be done.
She consulted with the attorney, and told
him all that had passed between her and
her lover on that fatal evening. The law
yer wasshrewd enough TO see that the sim
pie and unadorned story of the maiden
was damaging to his client.
While they were sitting in the lawyers
Office, talking over the coming trial, the
door opened, and Olivia was astounded to
see the very same tramp whom she had
fed on the evening of her fathers assassin
alton enter the Office.
"Yer the gal what gin me the grub that
night, amt ye?" he said.
Eyes" she answered, after a moments
silence.
at was yer father what was killed an
robbed?"
1T was"
Il hear that young chap named Blake's
been accused O. doin' the deed?" said the
tramp, interrogatively.
He has been" said the lawyer, but he
is innocent"
Mister, are you the Teller what's his
lawyer in this case?"
Eyes, sir"
"Well, I've got this much to say bout it
mister, / know tibet he's inherent"
you know"
"Bet do, mister-I want ter see ye
alone"
Olivia, with grateful look at the tramp,
left the Office. For long time the tramp
and the attorney were together in the office.
Olivia went TO the house of friend in the
town where she was staying, and soon re-
ceived note from the attorney that he
would see her at two o'clock p. M, next
day.
Oh, how wildly and anxiously her heart
beat for the next twenty four hours. Was
the tramp really going to unravel this mys-
terious affair? She saw the sheriff and de-
tective in close consultation with the attor-
ney that evening.
She slept little that night, but when her
eyes did close, she saw the tramp, his
homely face shining bright and clear from
the pure soul within that rugged exterior.
She awoke nervous and anxious.
At two, the lawyer sent for her to come
to his office. The committing magistrate
was there, Harry Blake was there, and to
her establishment, Mr.. Otto Hampton, one
of their nearest neighbors and his two
hired men, Tim Nettles and Bill Tunnels
were there, in irons. The tramp was also
present.
"Now, mister, I'll tell We all about it, I"
said the tramp, on being sworn. Il war
amost starved that day, when l called on
this leetle gal. She gin me suthin' 10 eat
and said some kind words to me, which
teched my heart. When l left her and
went down the road, / war wishin' l could
sarve her. l crossed the bridge jist about
dark an came to that dark road oil tother
side.
IL heerd some un' talkin' an plannin' 10
rob some un'. 1t war these three men,"
pointing to the three men in irons. Then
i felt that i orter interfere. but the devil in
me said, it's not your funeral; let EN-
alone, specially as no ones goin' ter be
hurt. i warn't goin' 10 interfere. Directly
boss came down the road, then thar war
scrimmage, that man" pointing to Bill
Tunnels. was shot in the shoulder. guess
yell find the bullet thar yit, an the gals
pa war killed and robbed. / heerd that
Teller who got shot say he'd dropped the